10 Tips to Survive Being an In-Law

First of all, being an in-law falls into this category of life's must-do's. No matter what you think, these people who you marry (because we all know you are not just marrying the man of your dreams, or the woman of your dreams, you are, in fact, marrying their family also) are under no circumstances, YOUR family. They do not have to accept you for your faults, they do not have to appreciate your idiosyncracies, and they do not, I repeat, do not, need to know your life story. Only your spouse needs to be supportive of your decisions, not your in-laws, don't ask for it (support), don't expect it, and don't cry about the lack of it, if that happens to be the case.

My inlaws are amazing people, I have learned many lessons being married to my husband, and being married to his family! We have all had our ups and downs and they have become an inspiration to me. A good inspiration! Remember that the way you treat your inlaws will reflect in your daily activities, it will reflect on your relationship with your spouse, and it will affect the relationship you have with your children.

Rule number one: Do not share your life story with your in-laws. Experience tells me now, after the fact, that sharing every little dirty detail with your in-laws as a way to win them over could do the opposite - it could make them dislike you.

Rule number two: Do not fight your spouses battles for them with their families. Experience also has shared with me that when you try to fight a battle for your spouse with their family, you will not only lose, but you will inevitably push these people away.

Rule number three: Never make fun of your in-laws, especially in front of them. Common sense people. They may joke about you, and you may not like it, but under no circumstances are you to make jokes about them, especially when you are within hitting distance.

Rule number four: Never complain about your spouse to their family. Really, if you even thought that you had gotten close to his sister, or his mother, or even his step-mother, you haven't. They are testing you. Trust me, do not spill the beans about how your spouse snores all night long, or did something that really ticked you off.